Embryos can be transferred to the uterus earlier, such as on the day after insemination, but at that stage it is not possible to tell which embryos are developing the best and choose only the most viable. Extended culture takes place for up to 120 hours after insemination in a special solution in culture dishes. As they develop, we can separate the embryos that are developing well from those that are developing slowly or stop growing entirely.
This method allows us to implant only the best, most viable embryos into the uterus. Moreover, a five-day embryo implanted as an eight-cell morula or blastocyst is more mature and the longer culture time means it can be transferred to a better prepared endometrium, increasing its chances of success. This method also allows genetic testing to be performed on individual embryos (PDG).
Patients can ask about the progress of the culture and keep informed. The process is highly individual, as much depends on the quality of the embryos, how quickly they divide, and the patient’s wishes. At our clinic we offer clients a unique service called monitoring, where they can follow the development of their own embryos online throughout the culture process.
